A heartfelt thank you to @melissapayne_writes, @getredpr, and @brillancepublishing for the incredible #gifted book and audiobook!

These spirited seniors truly are the best! I found myself completely captivated by the characters.

The story follows retired business owner Birdie Allen, who wrestles with a deep secret linked to her unrequited love, Allison, and the unsolved mystery of her death from fifty years ago. As memories resurface, Birdie becomes entangled in a web of recent murders and a woman's mysterious disappearance. With the support of her quirky friends at the Sunny Pines Retirement Community and the echoes of the past, Birdie embarks on a quest to unravel the truth behind her love’s tragic end. Will solving the mystery liberate her from decades of regret and allow her to fully embrace her life?

This book is a brilliant fusion of mystery and romance. The heartbreak and guilt that Birdie endures for half a century drew me in completely. I loved that Birdie is strong, with a wonderful heart. I adored how the unique characters in the retirement community united to unravel the murders of these women, each carrying their own haunting stories. The way they shared their burdens as they worked together was truly moving. The reveal of the killer was nothing short of extraordinary and left me utterly astounded. I also loved the chapters narrated from Allison's perspective, as she and the other murdered girls observed the seniors' making headway in solving the murders.

This book is an absolute gem, and the narration was simply outstanding. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing these vibrant characters to life.

If you enjoy a gripping mystery, a touch of murder, and a poignant love story intertwined with the wisdom of seniors, this book is a must-read. Mark your calendar for April 22, 2025—it's a date you won't want to miss!

A slow-burn but engrossing mystery, focused on the victims and their loved ones.

I appreciated the social justice angle and generational perspective. So many crime novels (true and fictional) focus on the perpetrator and/or "good" victims. Here we have a lesbian love story ahead of its time, where two women did their best to raise their son under the constraints of time and place. Art imitates life because unmarried, LGBTQIA+, non-white sex workers and dancers remain under-reported and overlooked, even when they are murdered. I also enjoyed watching Birdie come out of her shell in her later years.

Still, this was a really really really slow burn. I had to keep pushing myself to keep going with it. And the introduction was over the top.

The narration by Bahni Turpin and Jeremy Carlisle Parker was impeccable.

Overall, this was an engrossing mystery about an old woman obsessed with the long-ago murder of the woman she loved. In general, I am not a fan of ghost narrators, but Payne used the ghost of the murdered woman sparingly and it fit for the story she was telling. Most of the book is narrated by Birdie, delightfully given voice by the fabulous Bahni Turpin. Although the rest of the world thinks Allison committed suicide, including Allison's son Felix whom Birdie raised as her own, Birdie is sure that Allison was the first victim of the Vampire Killer serial murderer, who has never been caught. There are some big coincidences in the last quarter of the book, but overall this was cleverly plotted, and Birdie is a wonderfully drawn character, along with her colorful neighbors in her retirement community. Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for an audiobook review copy.

I’m a big fan of Melissa Payne’s books. This one was different in many ways but just as thoughtful and timely as her previous books. My mom moved into an independent senior living community about a year ago so this book really resonated with me. I could clearly picture Birdie and was cheering her on as she settled in and made new friends. I always appreciate good sleuthing skills and really enjoyed the camaraderie of Birdie and her new friends coming together to try to solve some unsettling mysteries both new and old.

I received an advanced audiobook copy of this book and this is my honest review.

Ill start out by saying that this book isn't something I would normally pick but I've been trying to explore different genres. With that said, guess what? I really liked this book. I feel Melissa Payne put together a great story about love, loss and self discovery. Sometimes, not living our truth can be one of our greatest regrets and we see that with the main character Birdie.

My heart broke for Birdie when she lost her friend Allison. Birdie shows that getting older doesnt mean you still dont have some spunk in you as well as some sleuthy detective skills. I loved so many of the characters: Everly, Joseph and Louise.

More importanly, I loved Birdies journey of self discovery, acceptance and forgiveness. I feel that Melissa Payne crafted a story that not only tugged on your heart strings but really made you connect to the characters. I recommend everyone read this. Thank you Get Red PR Books for this copy.

Melissa Payne's In the Beautiful Dark is perfect for fans of books such as The Thursday Night Murder Club in terms of looking at retirees as still having a lot to offer, of being smart and engaged and perfectly great crime solvers.... And this is also a win for fans of books from writers such as Heather Webber and Sarah Addison for the dashes of magical realism, grief/family/hope.

thank you GetRed PR for inviting me to review this book and to Lake Union and Brilliance audio for review copies! This was a win for me, I really loved the mystery element but more than that I loved the way the characters came together and how an enduring sense of love/grief, maybe a little stubbornness, make for such a great character with Biride. I was all in for her to reconcile her past loss, and let that help her relationship with her son, and really wanted her to have the satisfaction of solving a crime and to perhaps be understood, to find people who understood her and connected with her. The audiobook really captured Birdie's voice as I imagined it as well and recommend checking out the audio as well as the book!

First and foremost, thank you NetGalley and GetredPR for the ARC of In the Beautiful Dark.
This is a beautiful mystery that spans over a lifetime.
Birdie is living during a time where being open about loving the same sex is shameful. She is close friends with Alison and Alison has a son. In the beginning Alison is ready to share her feeling with Birdie, but Birdie still feels the weight of the shame so she does not want to admit her feelings towards Alison.
When Birdie gets home one day, she finds Alison’s body in their bathtub. The case is closed after sometime, deeming Alison took her own life. But Birdie never believes that.
When Birdie is much older and living in a retirement home, she becomes infatuated with figuring out what happened to Alison again. With her friends at the nursing home, they all become a force to reckon with.

This story shows what a lifetime of grief and regret can do to us. But also how love can help us persevere.
I loved how Alison was still included in this with her own chapters here and there.
This was a great mystery that held all sorts of emotions.
Definitely recommend.

Let’s talk about In the Beautiful Dark by Melissa Payne. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the opportunity to be one of the early listeners!

This book isn’t in my usual reading realm, but Birdie—the main character—might as well be my literary twin. Her love for books, the way she uses them to escape and unwind, made me fall even harder for her. Every author and series she mentioned felt like a little nod to my own reading habits.

I listened to this book in a single day (on 2x speed, of course), and I’ve already recommended it to several people. Sure, it doesn’t take long to figure out who the “bad guy” is, but that’s not the point. The neatly wrapped-up ending didn’t bother me either, because the heart of the story is in its emotion—the pain, the loneliness, the search for meaning.

Birdie’s determination to prove that Allison’s love was real and not the reason for her death hit deep. And the retirement community? Absolutely stole my heart. Their hilarious and sobering life stories are a reminder that “getting old isn’t for the faint of heart.” The passion and hope in this book run parallel to fear and depression in a way that’s both beautiful and gut-wrenching.

It made me want to do more. Be more. And that, to me, is the mark of a great book.

In the Beautiful Dark was a thriller book like no other! Birdie is an elderly Sherlock Holmes and feels the need to solve the case of a serial killer that has been on the loose for decades. Birdie also believes this serial killer killed her friend/love interest when they were younger. Although the female main character is older, she is fierce. She is confident in herself and protective over those she loves. The author also adds other characters who live in the retirement community and they compliment the main character very well. The book represented a mix of the Golden Girls and Only Murders in the Building. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery.

In the Beautiful Dark is an intriguing whodunit that spans a lifetime. The characters are engaging, and the retirement community setting adds a unique charm. While the pacing occasionally slows, it’s still a solid and enjoyable read overall.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the chance to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review. 3.25

This story about grief was amazing. It can hold you hostage without you even realizing it. Birdie never forgets Allison. She keeps living, raising their son, and starting a business, but Allison is always there. I really liked the retirement community. Birdie is in a new phase of life and finding a new community for herself. I thought they were going to be senior crime detectives, but it was more about Birdie moving forward while still being in the past. It’s not as murder mystery as I expected. There was also the ghostly presence that was a fun element that took me by surprise.